And, another fine week it has been. I absolutely love this weather and am just in from a great walk with the pups that took us over hill and dale with beautiful sunshine and a crisp breeze urging us along. For once I just moseyed along and let them sniff and explore rather than power them through a 2 mile jog. We had fun. We were lucky enough to meet the school bus and have another great visit with the dog walkers Dominic and Nicholas. As we rounded the bend in the road Nik and Pic saw them and literally flew down the road to meet their buddies. The great part of these random meetings is the conversations that ensue. Today I learned that Dominic wants to go to Catholic Central for high school and that Nick is a math geek and that younger brother Angelo is wild about being an electrical engineer. And, I always get to hear about what’s for dinner. They’re great fans of their mom’s cooking.

Monday is Columbus Day, the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas on 10-12-1492. An Italian explorer from the Republic of Genoa he was the first European to make the voyage across “the ocean blue.” Franklin Roosevelt declared it a federal holiday in 1937 and it was fixed to the second Monday in October in 1970. Ironically the day coincides with Canada’s Thanksgiving and the Anniversary of the U.S. Navy on 10-13-1775. Although it is a very patriotic holiday framed around national loyalty and social progress it is controversial because the settlement of Europeans led to the demise of large portions of native people. Unlike the banks and post office we’ll be open with arms wide-open to greet you all day!Sharon and crew have some awesome Chalkboard Features starting tonight. Florida Grouper is Roasted and Presented with Tempura Fried Asparagus and Wasabi Aioli; Sweet, Jumbo Sea Scallops are seared to Golden and served with a Pine Nut Bread Pudding and Vanilla Butter Sauce; Pecan Crusted Chicken is Presented with Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Sautéed Brussels Sprouts and last, but not least, Guinness Beef Stew topped with a Tangle of Crispy Onion Rings. On the beverage side there are two great Schweiger Wines, Chardonnay and Merlot and a “Ginger Grant”: House-Made Pear, Ginger and Rosemary Infused Rum Muddled Orange and a Splash of Pear Nectar. YUM!!!REMEMBER THE PET PANTRY…IT IS IN GIVING THAT WE RECEIVE!!!“MAY EVERY DAY BE A MILLION DOLLAR ONE!!!”